SEC issues revised media policy

Friday

Aug 14, 2009 at 4:37 PMAug 14, 2009 at 5:53 PM

By Tommy DeasExecutive Sports Editor

The Southeastern Conference issued a revised media policy Friday for the upcoming school year, backing down to allow video from practices and press conferences to be posted on the Internet, and allowing use of game video on television broadcasts for up to a week after athletic events. The new policy also allows for Internet outlets to receive free video from games for use on Web sites, but will not allow non-television outlets to produce their own game video.A draft of the original media policy distributed last week to the SEC’s 12 member schools, and obtained by The Tuscaloosa News, contained a much stricter policy that would have not allowed Internet video from any games, practices or press conferences involving SEC schools, and limited televised use of game video to a 72-hour window.“During the last week, we have heard from members of the media about the credential policy,” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said in a statement. “This revised policy reflects many of the concerns that we have heard. It is a balance between the media’s ability to cover our sporting events and the SEC’s ability to protect its digital rights and trademarks.”The SEC said its media policy will be reviewed annually. The conference said it will seek feedback from media members on the new policy.